It’s 2020: what is accounting today?

Carnegie, G., Parker, L. and Tsahuridu, E. (2021) It’s 2020: what is accounting today? Australian Accounting Review, 31(1), pp. 65-73. (doi: 10.1111/auar.12325)

[img] Text
224075.pdf - Accepted Version

443kB

Abstract

Based on the acceptance of the importance of clear definitions and concepts, we explore conventional definitions of accounting and chart their change and development. While accounting's definitions have evolved, they do not, in our view, adequately reflect accounting as social and moral practice but rather continue to position accounting as a technical practice, despite the valuable work of key accounting scholars particularly over the last four decades. We highlight the social and moral aspects of accounting and propose a new definition of accounting for the 2020s to stimulate discussion, debate and improvement. In our opinion, accounting has a way to go to reach its true potential.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Parker, Professor Lee
Authors: Carnegie, G., Parker, L., and Tsahuridu, E.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Accounting and Finance
Journal Name:Australian Accounting Review
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:1035-6908
ISSN (Online):1835-2561
Published Online:22 November 2020
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 CPA Australia
First Published:First published in Australian Accounting Review 31(1): 65-73
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record